GEMS from the PHILIPS catalogue #2

A selection of excellent records from the Philips classical catalogue.
Unfortunately I was unable to source any extracts from the Henry Czyz recording of Penderecki's St. Luke's Passion, so the extract featured in the video is from Kent Nagano's excellent live recording. You can listen to this complete performance here:
• Playlist
You can watch/hear the complete recording of Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3 with Raymond Leppard conducting the English Chamber Orchestra, beautifully transcribed from vinyl, here:
• J.S.Bach - Orchestral ...
Recommended channels for classical music fans and collectors:
David Hurwitz
kzbin.info/door/Sf-...
Poetry On Plastic
kzbin.info/door/ShT...
An invaluable guide to all the different pressings of the main classical labels:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iJYk...
Another excellent resource for new classical recordings is BBC Radio 3's long-standing weekly broadcast "Record Review". Shows remain available to listen to for 30 days after first broadcast:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06w...
My system, which has evolved over 20-plus years, is tube based and many pieces were acquired used. It was mostly put together with the invaluable help and ears of Eliot Midwood at Acoustic Image (acousticimage.com) who is also responsible for many of the fine recordings on the Yarlung label.
Well-Tempered Classic Turntable (round motor)
Micro-Benz Ruby 2 MC Cartridge
Phonostage: L.A. Audio
Cary Audio CD/SACD 306
Preamp: Kora Equinoxe
Amps: Genesis Monoblocks 60 Amp Valve
Speakers: Silverline Sonatas with upgraded crossover and tweeters (Dynaudio)
Cabling: Aural Symphonics
Custom-made stands, with a Townshend Seismic Sink for the Well-Tempered turntable

[@JamesHLee-un8un]

I started love haydn fairly late. Antal Dorati's haydn complete symphonies was the gateway to love his music...charming and beautiful.

[@musiconrecord6724]

I think many people discovered the Haydn symphonies via those Dorati records, especially the lesser-known works. They still sound great.

[@clydeselsor]

I really love your channel! I’m learning a great deal about classical music from you. I would love to see your hi-fi system. Thanks for your wonderful channel!

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thank you so much - so glad you are enjoying it. I definitely plan to do a video on the system in the near future. It's nothing too extravagant, but has been built up gradually over the years, a lot of it I acquired used, all tube-based with an older Well -Tempered turntable which is one of the better kept secrets in superb vinyl playback on a modest budget.

[@dennismaurer9672]

I was at Carnegie hall in 1970 when pendereki conducted his st.Luke passion. Overwhelming!!

[@musiconrecord6724]

Oh that must have been amazing! Wow!

[@denbigh51]

@@musiconrecord6724 I also heard it conducted by Penderecki (the Proms, 1983) I haven’t heard the music since - what has remained in by mind is the final overwhelming loud and prolonged major chord

[@musiconrecord6724]

@@denbigh51 That end - masterful indeed.

[@lokitio]

fabulous content, really appreciate the depths you're able to share across all these catalogues and also your balanced perspectives on where vinyl isn't always first choice. Great stuff all round.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thank you for watching!

[@ComicRhema]

Haven’t seen one of your videos in awhile. Keep up the great work. I’m also local to LA. Great to see your channel growing. Love the Philips label. God bless

[@marzzt]

Really enjoy your calm, informative approach. Also agree with you about the Haydn sonatas and with Brendel's interpretations. I no longer have any vinyl but you've inspired me to dig out some cds I haven't played in years - like the Haydn piano sonatas for starters! Thanks for the effort you obviously put into your videos.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thanks so much for your appreciative feedback. And very happy this has sent you back to the Brendel recordings - I think they are the jewel in his discography.

[@royoser3055]

The Netherlands Wind Ensemble Stravinsky LP has been one of my favorites since I found it in my college record library in the 70s.

[@johnmarchington3146]

A marvellous video. I agree entirely with your assessment of Bernard Haitink. A truly great conductor. I have the complete Bruckner symphonies with the Concertgebouw on both vinyl and CD and love them all. I also have his more recent Vienna Phil recording of the 3rd symphony and love that too. Many of the Mahler and the LSO Live of all the Beethoven, plus Debussy, Ravel and others. I live in New Zealand and Edo de Waart was Musical Director of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for a number of years and I loved attending his concerts. I have many of his recordings too.

[@dridgus]

Enjoyed your words on Haydn. I also thought little of him when I was younger and have recently realised what a mistake that was. He has been my great discovery in lockdown, especially the string quartets. I love Brendel but have always associated him almost exclusively with Schubert, Beethoven and Mozart. Listening to your recommendation though I have ordered the CD set of Haydn sonatas. Enjoying your videos greatly, although between you and Mr Hurwitz, I am being driven to bankruptcy! David

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thanks! I have a similar problem from watching Mr. Hurwitz's videos - he's alerted me to some great recordings I didn't know about. One of my lockdown discoveries was working my way through Brendel's various Mozart piano concerti recordings, which I hadn't listened to in years. A real joy.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

That very Stravinsky LP was my introduction to all of those works, and it still ranks among my favorites…especially the Octet, which I’ve conducted twice and played once. I’ve also plays both the Symphonies and the Ebony Concerto. Though I’ve never played it, what a spectacular work is the Piano Concerto?!?!?!

[@musiconrecord6724]

Yes indeed - a very cool piece. This record was my introduction to these works too, and I can't get enough of them. Love Stravinsky's own mono recordings of them.....

[@wh9462]

Your chanel is fabulous. Although I am no Vinyl collector (as a muaic lover from younger generation my main resources are from CDs and digital data) I still enjoy listening you talking about recordings and wow how that brings memories back. I am so young that I was only be able to witness Brendel live in his farewell concert series, and at that age with declined hearing he was still able to mesmerize the audience. His Haydn is marvellous. (I personally rank Haydn higher than Mozart in music for solo piano)

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thanks so much for the complement. Me too - re. Mozart and Haydn. Most of these recordings are available in all formats, so I am happy for people to listen to them via whatever medium suits them best. Occasionally though there are recordings available only on vinyl.....

[@denbigh51]

Enjoyed your comments on Haydn who I loved from the get go thanks to buying Szell’s Cleveland recording of Symphonies 93 and 94. Perhaps you might think of featuring the Haydn symphony recordings by Colin Davis with the Concertgebouw. Two of these 86 and 87 are only available on the original LPs. As to the piano concertos I love Jean Efflam Bavouzet. I was able to praise him in person for the cadenza he composed for the F major after he played the Emperor concerto here in Auckland two years ago. He seemed quite touched that someone had noticed!

[@musiconrecord6724]

Absolutely yes to the Colin Davis! Bavouzet is terrific, though I have yet to see him live. I am sure he was thrilled by your comment!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Also on Philips, if you haven’t heard Haydn’s Complete Lieder sung by Elly Ameling…well….you’re in for a real treat!!!! I’ve had the complete set on cassette since college.

[@musiconrecord6724]

I have never seen that anywhere. Ameling is a favorite of mine, and I will be sure to be on the lookout for this now.

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

The Philips silver line classics on CD from the late 80s are superb. The sound quality is great too. Obviously they came from vinyl issues from the 60s and 70s. I found a few this week in a pawn shop.

[@atomkraftteddy]

The dutch Phonogram pressings are the best.

[@musiconrecord6724]

They are indeed.

[@pauldavies6037]

Beaux Art trio on Philips catalogue did more to chamber music than any other ensemble worth a mention

[@musiconrecord6724]

Absolutely. I have many of their records - will definitely be featuring some in future videos.

[@pauldavies6037]

@@musiconrecord6724 dont forget Thomas Beecham too love your Y tube

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Oh!….I love, love, LOVE that Jochum Bruckner 5th!!! Even though I prefer his Dresden account on EMI, despite its sonic shortcomings…(Oh!!!! That bass trombone in the opening passages must be heard to be believed!!!!)

[@musiconrecord6724]

I love the Dresden cycle too, though I only have it on CD. (I have Jochum's DG cycle on vinyl, early large tulip pressing, and it sounds gorgeous). The Dresden Staatskapelle is one of my favorite orchestras - they have such a distinctive sound. Yes, this 5th is special, but now you have inspired me to go back and listen to his 5th with Dresden.....

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@musiconrecord6724 The EMI box of LPs was my first Bruckner cycle. Prior to that, I had only a few recordings of the 4th…Mehta/LAPO and Rudolf/Cincinnati. I was able to find a good used Tulips pressing of the DGG box some years later.

[@morrigambist]

I heard Jessye Norman in Act I of Die Walküre in concert opposite Gary Lakes. He never had a chance - she could probably have swallowed him whole if she had been hungry enough. As a side note, the management had announced that the bass trumpet player was stuck in traffic, and they would have to make provision in case he did not arrive in time. In the event, he walked out onto the stage with the bass trumpet at his first entrance, an electrifying event.

[@mancal5829]

Oh, wow! David Hurwitz doesn't like Ove Andsnes' piano concerti recordings at all, but I just adored it (to be fair, the very muscular recordings by Hammelin he recommends, are very fine indeed, and it's like discovering them anew). The sonatas played by Brendel you recommend also sound delicious. Haydn has so many "hidden" gems. Thank you.

[@musiconrecord6724]

I can't believe Mr. Hurwitz wouldn't like that disc of Haydn piano concerti. It is superb. Andsnes is one of my favorite pianists.

[@mancal5829]

@@musiconrecord6724 Yes, he is a very fine artist.

[@albiepalbie5040]

Thankyou for your great insights and enthusiasms The producer / engineer of all Haitinks Concertgebow recordings at that time was very important to the consistent clean beautiful sound He was interviewed in the Gramophone He mastered them using Quad Electrostatics I’m sure his name must be on the booklets with the LPs I’ve no LPs at hand to check unfortunately

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thank you for this feedback, which immediately prompted me to do some digging. I believe the gentleman you are thinking of is Volker Strauss. Interestingly, unlike the other labels, Philips did not list the names of their technical staff on their releases I think this was a rather shoddy practice, and it means he is not celebrated like his counterparts at EMI and Decca. When I worked in radio I had the pleasure to work with many superb engineers, and the quality of the final programs was entirely dependent on their work. They were the ones who made me look good. Looking up Strauss on Discogs I only found references to his later recordings, probably because his name is not listed on earlier releases. I don't think that interview was in Gramophone - I think it was in International Classical Record Collector, now defunct. I am going to see if I can track this down.....

[@albiepalbie5040]

@@musiconrecord6724 Hi Thankyou for getting back - Volker Strauss ! Google came up with Hans Vonk - the conductor It might have been the International Classical Magazine he was interviewed in - I used to get that every month Pre internet there were only about 4 monthly magazines to get information and reviews which I had to order The engineers made the sound as much as the conductors - still do Gunter Hermans / Karajan Kenneth Wilkinson Solti /Britten and Volker Strauss The particular sound image produced was personal to them EMI had Kinloch - Anderson who did beautiful Previn / Boult recordings - Rach 2 Elgar ( can’t remember his first name - Robert ? ) A house sound doesn’t really exist now

[@musiconrecord6724]

@@albiepalbie5040 At EMI you might be thinking also of the Christopher Parker/Christopher Bishop team

[@albiepalbie5040]

@@musiconrecord6724 Yes - those are the guys

[@rcarloz]

Nice video. For the "Penderecki: Passio et mors Domini nostri Iesu Christi secundum Lucam", which version do you have and how does it sound? Thanks!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

While I usually find Brendel’s Beethoven rather fussy….(perhaps he should have just stayed home and knitted doilies)…but I’ve always found his Haydn absolutely magnificent!!!

[@musiconrecord6724]

Hysterical - and I don't disagree with you!

[@barbaricyawper14]

Hear hear for Haitink! Those Debussy records are wonderful, as are his Ravel. I too have the Direct-to-Disc Bruckner from Berlin, another landmark pressing. I also agree with you on Brendel, whom I saw only once, back in the late 80’s where he played an all Schubert programme.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Yeah, that BPO 7th is quite something. But I still retain my fondness for the earlier recording. Brendel's Schubert is wonderful. Very, very difficult music to play, on every level.

[@barbaricyawper14]

@@musiconrecord6724 I have that earlier RCO B7 with Haitink on Philips (I believe coupled with Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll) and it’s marvelous as well. My go-to B7 in fact. The direct to disc B7 is sui generis; a very special thing to listen to only occasionally.

[@hectorberlioz1449]

👍👌👍

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

I would be interested in knowing who your tutor was. I know you are a cellist, and as a trombonist, I LOVE the Haydn Cello Concerti.

[@musiconrecord6724]

WAS a 'cellist (and gamba player - heavily into early music).That was another lifetime ago, although I do try to sing in a choir and play occasionally when I have the time. My tutor was Edward Olleson, a real old-school academic. A dedicated teacher and chain smoker, always with the windows closed!!! He edited Music and Letters, one of the main scholarly journals, and was second only to Robbins Landon as a Haydn expert.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@musiconrecord6724 You were very fortunate indeed to have studied with him.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Jessie Norman…..I had the pleasure of hearing Sir Michael Tippett’s “A Child of Our Time” at a Proms concert in the summer of 1979. She may have been soloists…I’m not certain…but back home in the US, when I came upon the Davis recording in my local record store, I snatched it up immediately!!! Norman was the soprano soloist on that Philips recording and my friends and I were all mesmerized by her vocal timbre and diction and delivery!!! This was before she become an international superstar…I mean…none of us had heard of her at the time, but we immediately recognized her as an artist to be reckoned with.

[@denbigh51]

Yes she was one of the soloists (I was also present 30 July) Michael Tippett conducted too- a special occasion

[@musiconrecord6724]

Yes, that must have been around the time that Davis made that recording. What a piece! I grew up hearing Colin Davis conduct at Covent Garden (in whose orchestra my 'cello teacher played before he moved onto the BBC Symphony). It was a golden era at the Royal Opera. I saw the legendary Ring cycle produced by Gotz Friedrich (a recording of which someone has finally put up on KZbin) and Berg's Lulu, also produced by Friedrich. Sensational. Colin Davis was a terrific conductor, as his discography amply demonstrates.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@denbigh51 Yes, Tippett conducted. (I still have the program around here somewhere!). Also on the program were a Carter Concerto for Two Orchestra, and Lutoslawski’s Les Espaces du sommeil.

[@denbigh51]

@@musiconrecord6724 I lived in London from 1979 till 1984 which I have seen described as a golden era at Covent Garden. It also wasn’t expensive (at least In the amphitheater) There were also the regular GC proms where you could sit on the carpet - I remember a week of Mozart (Figaro, Cosi and Giovanni) I went every night

[@musiconrecord6724]

@@denbigh51 Fantastic!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks (again) for linking to my video of Leppard's Bach! As a little tribute to Bernard Haitink I posted his recording of Debussy's La Mer with the Concertgebouw recently kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXWUZGtrfLireJI

[@FILMCOLLECTOR16]

programme on ASD and ALP HMV labels?

[@musiconrecord6724]

There's a bunch of ASD records mentioned in my "Gems from the EMI-Columbia...." series of videos.

[@berlinskysmith4782]

glad to see haitinks reputation in the critical community rehabilitated from 'faceless and mediocre' to 'near-great' ... its about time ...